SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Cougars, playing with sites set on the big picture, came up short against the Sioux Falls Flyers in girls’ hockey action this past weekend.

The Flyers swept Aberdeen winning 5-1 on Sunday morning, following a 6-2 victory on Saturday.

The short-handed Cougars, who are still without starting goalie Chloe Vikander due to injury, tried some different combinations to see what might work as the season heads down the home stretch.

“With our lineup thrown for a loop, we tried some different arrangements this weekend,” said Aberdeen coach David Sandvig. “With Sioux Falls being who you’ll need to be able to beat at state, we took it as an opportunity to try a few changes out. We took our lumps and the corresponding notes. Hopefully, they pay off in March.”

Rachel Siefken provided all of the offense on the weekend for the Cougars. She scored on an assist from Allison Woehl in Saturday’s contest, and then found the back of the net twice on Sunday, one coming on an assist from Olivia Sandvig.

“Rachel had some very pretty goals,” Coach Sandvig said.

Meanwhile, backup goalie Addyson Keller continued to play solid in net, in the absence of Vikander.

“Addy had a good weekend playing her hand as goalie for a spell,” Coach Sandvig said.

The Cougars, who play at Brookings on Friday, before hosting Oahe on Saturday, will continue to tweak their lineup the remainder of the season with the state tournament in mind.

“With a state league play title not a priority at this point, it allows us to get creative, building blocks to prep for state,” Sandvig said. “We’ll use the rest of the season for that.”

Aberdeen Cougars 1 0 0 – 1

Sioux Falls Flyers 2 1 2 – 5

First Period: 1, AC, Rachel Siefken (Allison Woehl), 8:31; 2, SF, Ragyn Peska (Isabella Rigolizzo), 5:35; 3, SF, Emma Honner (Lucy Nelson, Brianna Marvici), 3:47.

Second Period: 4, SF, Honner (Nelson), 5:10.

Third Period: 5, SF, Faith Van Voorst (unassisted), 14:43; 6, SF, Lilyana Knutson (Callie Pederson, Scarlett Black), 6:06.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 19; Sioux Falls Flyers 37.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Addyson Keller (32 saves); Sioux Falls Flyers, Moriah Lincoln (18 saves).

SATURDAY’S GAME

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 2 – 2

Sioux Falls Flyers 2 1 3 – 6

First Period: 1, SF, Ragyn Peska (Neely Meyer), 9:26; 2, SF, Peska (Halle Watson, Rebecca Harris), 5:31.

Second Period: 3, SF, Callie Pederson (unassisted), 2:58.

Third Period: 4, SF, Lucy Nelson (unassisted), 13:43; 5, SF, Watson (Brianna Marvici, Aniston Murray), 11:22; 6, AC, Rachel Siefken (unassisted); 7, AC, Siefken (Olivia Sandvig), 1:22; 8, SF, Emma Honner (Nelson), :35.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 18; Sioux Falls Flyers 36.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Addyson Keller (30 saves); Sioux Falls Flyers, Marissa Ready (16 saves).